The First Summoner - Chapter 2

Night had fallen by the time Shen Yan escaped the dungeon.

She emerged into a dense forest, with many low-level spirit beasts prowling nearby. Looking up at the stars scattered across the sky, she frowned and searched the original owner’s memories.

There was a forest on the border of Nanxiao Kingdom called Lingyan Forest.

That must be where she was now.

Nangong Yu had gone to extraordinary lengths to build a secret dungeon here.

Shen Yan’s expression turned cold. Without further delay, she lowered her head and studied the tracks on the ground, then followed the trail of footprints in search of a way out.

Just then—

The spatial currents high above the forest suddenly warped.

An overwhelming pressure descended. The spirit beasts throughout Lingyan Forest erupted into chaos, and furious, fearful, warning roars rose from every direction.

“Feng Xingyao, you are gravely wounded. Your meridians are severed, and your spiritual power is exhausted. Hand over the Ninefold Demon-Suppressing Pagoda, and we may still leave you an intact corpse!”

A hoarse, cold laugh rolled through the air.

Shen Yan sensed murderous intent overhead. Instinct took over, and she darted behind the trunk of a towering tree.

Her heart quickened. With a grave expression, she tilted her head and peered into the sky.

A group of masked men in black stood suspended in the air, their auras formidable. The pressure radiating from them alone made it difficult for her to breathe.

Opposite them stood a young man in red. Tall and lean, he was almost unnaturally handsome. Ink-black hair cascaded over his shoulders, framing a face so breathtaking it could be called peerless. Blood stained one elegant brow, lending his beauty an even darker, more bewitching edge.

Heavy iron chains pierced all four of his limbs and hung beneath him in midair.

His lips were as pale as paper, and cold sweat beaded across his forehead.

Yet only one thing held Shen Yan’s attention.

They were treading the air.

A jolt went through her. From the original Shen Yan’s memories, she knew not a single person in Nanxiao Kingdom possessed the strength to fly. Even across the entire Pingze Western Region, experts capable of such a feat could be counted on one hand.

Who were these people?

Whoever they were, they were far beyond anyone she could afford to provoke in her current state.

“You want the Ninefold Demon-Suppressing Pagoda?” Feng Xingyao’s smiling voice drifted down, carrying an indescribably wicked charm. “Dream on.”

“Feng Xingyao, do you think you are still—”

He cut them off coldly. “I would sooner destroy it than give it to you.”

As he spoke, an ancient black pagoda slowly materialized in his palm. Before the horrified gazes of the masked men, he curled his fingers as if to crush it.

“No!”

They lunged forward to stop him.

The Ninefold Demon-Suppressing Pagoda abruptly erupted with blinding light. Monstrous energy surged outward like storm clouds pressing down from the heavens, freezing the men where they stood.

The dark energy coiled around them and bound their movements.

They understood at once.

“Damn it! It was a trap!”

The corner of Feng Xingyao’s mouth lifted. He turned, preparing to tear open the void and leave—

Then something changed.

The Ninefold Demon-Suppressing Pagoda ripped free from his palm and shot toward the ground at astonishing speed.

“Ninefold…” Feng Xingyao’s expression shifted. He moved in pursuit and reached the depths of Lingyan Forest in the blink of an eye.

When he saw the ancient pagoda land in the hand of a ragged young woman, he paused.

There was no trace of spiritual power on her. Her clothes had been shredded by a whip, leaving bloody wounds exposed along her thin frame. She looked no more than fifteen.

And yet her expression was utterly calm.

Feng Xingyao’s gaze settled on the Ninefold Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.

“Come back,” he ordered.

The pagoda did not react.

By then, the masked men had broken free of the monstrous energy and were rushing toward them at full speed.

Shen Yan sensed the approaching danger. She glanced down at the ancient black pagoda that had suddenly glued itself to her right palm, then looked up at Feng Xingyao without hesitation.

“I’ll throw it to you. Take it and leave!”

One of his brows rose. The slight movement made his bewitchingly handsome face even more alluring.

This girl was clever. She was afraid he would bring disaster down on her.

He had no idea why the Ninefold Demon-Suppressing Pagoda had chosen to land in her hand, but there was no time to investigate.

“Very well.”

Shen Yan hurled the black pagoda toward him with all her strength.

Whoosh—

It flew halfway through the air, stopped, then reversed so quickly it vanished from sight.

The next instant, it was firmly stuck to her right palm again.

Shen Yan stared at it.

What?

She shook her arm and clawed at it, but nothing could pry the Ninefold Demon-Suppressing Pagoda loose.

The masked men arrived. This time, they wasted no words on Feng Xingyao and attacked immediately. But when they saw the pagoda in the hands of a powerless girl, surprise flashed across their faces—followed by wild delight.

“Kill her!”

Several of them wheeled toward Shen Yan, intending to end her with a single strike.

Her expression changed, but the chill in her eyes only deepened. She moved with swift, fluid agility, dodging one attack after another.

The masked men were stunned.

There was not a trace of spiritual power on her. How could she possibly evade their killing moves?

One of them suddenly brought his sword down on her.

Clang!

His pupils trembled at the sight before him. At the last possible moment, Shen Yan had raised her right hand and used the Ninefold Demon-Suppressing Pagoda to block his blade.

How dare she?

That was a priceless divine artifact!

What an ignorant, useless girl!

The men released their crushing pressure all at once. Shen Yan could no longer withstand it. The taste of blood surged up her throat, and her spine bowed under the force.

Their killing blows descended again.

A powerful arm suddenly wrapped around her waist. An icy chain was fastened around the man’s wrist, its chill piercing straight to her heart. The faint scent of sandalwood brushed her nose as she was pulled against his chest.

Warm breath stirred beside her ear.

“Now,” Feng Xingyao said mildly, “I cannot leave, and you cannot escape.”

“Not necessarily.” Shen Yan remained perfectly calm.

He lowered his gaze to her, his eyes dark and unreadable.

A soft laugh vibrated through his chest.

“Then save me, and I will give you the Ninefold Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.”